Chapter 41: Seizing Supplies

Xie Ning narrowed her eyes, the corner of her lip curling into a faint, mocking smile.

’Things are moving fast. It’s only the first day of the apocalypse, and all the ghouls and goblins are already crawling out of the woodwork.’

The elderly couple was clearly a bit frightened, but they seemed to be in decent shape mentally.

It had been many years since she’d seen her grandparents. Xie Ning was lost in a momentary daze before she snapped out of it and hurried forward.

But she was stopped before she could even get close to the rattan chairs.

A thuggish young man with bleached-blond hair swaggered over, grinning at Xie Ning. "Who’s this little beauty? Didn’t you hear us talking? Come over here and register."

He pointed to a crude hand-drawn sign. "Song Family Pavilion Rescue Association."

"That’s right." Xiao Huang Mao crossed his arms, eyeing Xie Ning with great interest. "You know the world has changed, right? Monsters are running wild out there."

"If we hadn’t organized a rescue effort in time and sealed off the entire Song Family Pavilion estate, do you think you’d have such a peaceful, happy village now?"

"From now on, the Rescue Association will be coordinating and managing all supplies on the estate. We hope everyone will cooperate."

"Huang, this is a nice vehicle," the man said, reaching out to knock on the thick, double-paned window. "Open the door. Let’s check the supplies. I bet there’s a lot of stuff in here."

Song Kexin’s eyes went wide. "What Rescue Association? You’re just a bunch of robbers!"

"Hey, beautiful, you’d better watch your mouth!"

"We’re just conducting a legal registration. Now hurry up and cooperate, alright?"

"Are you police officers? Or from a legitimate government agency?" Song Youzhi sneered. "You can’t just act so lawlessly."

"What do you mean, lawlessly? We’re doing this for everyone’s safety..."

"Your Rescue Association only registers supplies and takes a census? It can’t be that simple, can it?" Xie Ning interrupted Xiao Huang Mao’s tirade with a smile.

"You’re a sharp one, little beauty." Xiao Huang Mao wagged a finger, and someone beside him immediately handed over a small booklet.

"According to the regulations of our Song Family Pavilion Rescue Association, we will legally collect a portion of the supplies from each household as a proportional protection fee."

"Additionally, every household must now hand over a key to their main gate so our association’s supervisors can drop by to inspect your supply situation at any time."

He then turned to stare at the RV. "All vehicles are to be turned over to the Rescue Association to be used in case of emergency."

Song Kexin erupted in anger. "You’re just a bunch of shameless robbers! This ’turning over’ crap is bullshit! Who gave you the authority to do this?"

Xiao Huang Mao’s face turned cold. "Little girl, you’d better watch your tone."

"Xinxin, Xinxin, don’t say anything! Xinxin!" the two elders cried out, slumped in the rattan chairs, their eyes filled with panic and anxiety.

Xie Ning smiled at Xiao Huang Mao. "You’ve frightened my grandparents."

"Oh, I’m so sorry about that." Xiao Huang Mao shrugged. "We really didn’t want to get physical, you know. We just hoped all the villagers would cooperate with us."

"Let the two elders go first."

The young man beside Xiao Huang Mao frowned. "The two old geezers were completely uncooperative. Not only did they refuse to register, they even locked the villa’s front gate."

"This kind of passive resistance is unacceptable, you know?"

"Uncle, is the iron gate locked tight?" Xie Ning suddenly turned and asked with a smile.

"It’s locked." Song Youzhi nodded, confused.

The next second, a sharp metal spike shot out from his niece’s fingertip and plunged straight into Xiao Huang Mao’s shoulder.

"AAAAHHH! AH!" A grating shriek tore from Xiao Huang Mao’s throat.

Xie Ning strode forward and slapped him across the face. "Shut up, you idiot!"